Being one of the earliest birthplaces of Chinese modern industry, Ningbo has been listed as a key investment area by the state and the province since the founding of New China and especially since the reform and opening to the outside world. Its industry has entered a phase of rapid development. There are above 100,000 enterprises in Ningbo.

As calculated among the enterprises whose annual sales income reaching over RMB ￥5 million, those with an annual output value of over RMB ￥10 billion are such industries as textile and garment, machinery, light industry, chemical and those with an annual output value of over RMB ￥5 billion cover electronics, power and metallurgical. Moreover building material and pharmaceutical industries have also developed markedly.